We provide asset management services to automotive customers ranging from operating small independent test cells to developing and managing large test complexes. We work through innovative partnerships with global automakers and suppliers such as Ford Motor Company to apply best practices gained from over 50 years of test facility experience – maximizing operational efficiency and adding value for our clients. We currently partner with Ford to provide asset management for three Michigan test facilities: Driveability Test Facility, Dearborn Proving Ground Wind Tunnels, and Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing Facility. As part of our asset management services, we assist our customers in making a wide range of strategic decisions to optimize the use of capital facilities associated with testing.

Our Approach/Solution – As part of the consolidated support structure at Ford’s asset-managed test facilities, we provide a complete range of services including design/build, facility upgrades, maintenance, facility scheduling, and test time brokering. A key aspect of our services is our engineering expertise in providing development and correlation of advanced test facilities capable of moving testing from the road to a laboratory. Our successful approaches have enabled Ford to achieve more repeatable test conditions, less reliance upon nature, and more timely design decisions to reduce concept-to-customer time. This is reducing Ford’s involvement in testing – which it considers to be a non-core activity – by fully leveraging our core knowledge base.

We use our expertise and viewpoint as a neutral third-party to identify current and future Ford testing requirements. This in turn enables us to assist Ford in decision-making regarding the next generation of Ford test facilities, upgrades to existing facilities, and the development of operating procedures for these facilities. We apply our engineering expertise to determine return on investment, potential utilization and recapture of engineering costs.

We also serve as a broker of excess test time to non-Ford users of Ford’s facilities, further reducing Ford’s tests costs while maximizing use of these facilities. Our reputation as an independent broker/operator is attractive to external test clients who are concerned with maintaining security of competition-sensitive data.

One major focus area for operating the asset-managed facilities has been workforce management and training. For example, by utilizing the strong engineering capabilities within our company for the development and management of advanced testing systems, Ford was able to redeploy its engineering staff to improve focus on its core business – the design, build and production of vehicles. We also leveraged our experience in transitioning and executing technical test facilities to staff and eventually replace non-core technician employees at the asset-managed sites. Recognizing the cyclical nature of the product development process, we additionally cross-trained many employees to handle different functions. As a result, an increase in test workload at one location can be serviced by relocating available employees from another facility – reducing cost and eliminating the need to always have large workforces on duty at each test facility.

Results and Benefits – To date, the Ford-Jacobs partnership has been highly successful as a result of our engineering, operational, and management expertise. Ford is experiencing more than a 20% productivity increase in their asset-managed facilities, a 26% reduction in testing costs, and a facility utilization rate of more than 85%. Our activities have shaved more than 13 months from Ford’s concept-to-customer schedule, resulting in significant cost decreases.

FABS | IT | LOGWORLD | MOBIS | PES | Lab Testing

© 2007 Jacobs. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use.